Note to self: don't leave new pack of cigarettes outside on the porch. Puppy thinks they're her new chew toy. (I think someone paid her...)

I LOVE CHICKS!

We went to Orchlen's 2 weeks ago after puppy food and came out with 22 chicks and 2 baby turkeys! The kids LOVE their turkeys and they swear the turkeys KNOW them! They were constantly holding them and loving on them. Many a time I'd walk into the living room and there they were with a baby turkey sleeping in their lap! LOL!  Last weekend we stopped back in Orschlen's and they had the cutest bantam chicks so of course, we got 3! I even picked out my own and I swear it KNOWS me! LOL!! They were getting loud (and stinky) living in boxes in the spare bedroom so yesterday we sectioned off a portion of the shed and they moved out there. They LOVE it! If you would have told me 3 months ago, I would have 5 goats, 27 chickens and a new pup I would have laughed hysterically! Now odds are if you call me after dark, I am outside, in the barn shed, sitting, laughing at antics and shaking my head in disbelief! LOL

My chick, a booted bantam, Black Betty

Bear

Almost lost Bear, our puppy. She has been rough with the goats. She's an Anatolian Pyrenees, born right before Christmas. She is a livestock guardian dog and she's learning her "job", which is to watch the goats. She tries to make them do what she wants, when she wants, and well, the goats, wont. LOL. Being a puppy she bites harder than she means to and has drawn blood on 2 of them. She likes to go for the back leg and ears. I researched ways to stop this and other than getting a shock collar (which means hiding and waiting for her to "earn" her shock), or finding some bitter apple spray and spraying on the goats ears and legs so she wont like the taste and stop. Anyway, I ramble. We have been keeping Bear separate from the goats until the nibbling stops. The shed they sleep in has a screen door separating 2 rooms. Its an old screen door with a decorative gate like panel on it. I heard her barking from inside the house but just thought she was missing her sleeping buddies since it was the first night she has slept apart from them. I went out after dark like I always do and saw that Bear has tried to squeeze in between the bars on that decorative front and was stuck, half in half out, and dangling. I don't know how she did it, but she wasn't doing well. Lethargic, foaming at her mouth and not breathing well. I had a hell of a time freeing her, but something just kicks in and you do it ya know? She wouldn't/couldn't walk so I carried her over to her blanket and she crawled into her house. I sat out there with her for a couple hours just watching. She wouldn't of made it had I not gone out there. The next morning she was fine like nothing at all had happened.! I slid a piece of paneling in the door even though I'm pretty sure she would NEVER try that again! LOL. ugh.

If I could...

I would have:
Bit my tongue a little harder...when necessary

Taken deeper breaths at times of frustration

Had more patience for the people that deserved it

 Not trusted as much as I did, because now I'd like to trust a little more

 

Not felt so small around people who really weren't that great themselves

Not got hung up on the little things that meant absolutely nothing

Listened to my friends more often

Not been in denial about certain people

Not believed everything that I heard

Argued a lot less

Been more careful

Called the girls more often 

Spent time with my family 

Studied a little harder 

Spoke my mind a little more 

Not listened to the enemies 

Not been scared to ask questions 

Not mentioned some things at all

Had a higher level of expectations 

Thought more about myself
Not let my mind run wild

Said more about how I felt 

Made more time for myself 

Not worried as much as I did
Loved more
Saved more
Spoke softer
Cried less 

--figured all this out earlier--

Orschlens!

My new favorite store! Where else can you buy taffy and baby chicks in one stop? Who can resist adorable soft, fluffy, peeping chicks?! Not me! Bought 22 chicks and 2 baby turkeys! Have you even seen a baby turkey before?! Me neither!!

Baby Red

Had a scare last night with the youngest goat. He is only about 3 months old. Every morning they are led down to the pasture below the hill to hang out in the sun and eat the green grass popping up. So every evening, we take them back up to the shed so they can be securely locked up. Last night Baby Red was gone! It was almost dark, thundering, lightning that was scaring even me and then during the search, it started to hail. We had to give up looking after dark. We have 80 acres here so he could have been anywhere. I went out 5 more times during the night hoping he found his way back and never saw him. Who knew I would become so attached to a goat. I could barely think or breathe, I was exhausted and  finally fell asleep. We of course, checked first thing this morning and still no sign of him. I was heartbroken. Then early afternoon, on another check, there he was, eating as if he'd been there the whole time. He has an injury to his back left leg and a small amount of blood around it, he is limping and really babying that leg, but he is alive. He is grounded, on lock down and quarantined! LOL

I took this a few weeks ago, it makes me laugh =D

I'm sizzlin hot!

Standing outside at the burn barrel and finding things to set on fire has become one of my favorite things to do... pure bliss!

evening routine

Black fuzzy slippers and all! LOL

blah

I'm Sad. I've been sad for a couple days. Trying not to slip into a funk. I miss some people that are very important to me.  I feel alone. I'm sure its just me "re-adjusting" to moving. again. I haven't not worked in years. It's hard not having my own money in my own pocket. I have a shit ton of things to do and unpack but I have no desire or motivation. I'm hoping once mother nature gets her crap together, so will I.  Should I even post this? Do I pretend everything is wonderful like I always do? Give *you* pep talks when I don't get any? Make  *you* laugh and smile when I cant find my own these days?

I really don't like:
- Karen and Becky being 3 hours away and that life goes on without me
- not being able to wear my heels
- not having a reason to get dressed up & go out with my girls

- not having my deck

- fighting for computer time since only one is set-up

- not being able to run into QUIKTRIP
- having no grocery store in town
- that I cant buy my weekly People magazine
- that I cant listen to my JOHNNY DARE every morning
- not being able to go out for breakfast
- not going to the casino's
- that there isn't a Gordman's close
- that I miss my co-workers from Gordman's
- and hearing coyotes outback

but I LOVE:

- that its so quiet I can hear frogs in the distance.

- I can walk around the farm after dark and not be scared in the least.

- that each one of the 4 of us has our own TV!

- and my kids absolutely LOVE being here.

- of course, my goats! 

- that I can sleep with windows open again

- and the daffodils have popped up.

- that I can see a million stars again.

- finding treasures to decorate with.

- that everyone is happy we are back.

- burning whatever I can get my hands on in the burn barrel

- and that I have a streetlight in my yard 

Ok, enough of the pity party. I am grateful. Grateful for kids who love me. Grateful for a house to live in and land to play with. Food in the fridge and a sink full of dirty dishes that means we ate well. Laundry baskets over flowing because we had fun and got dirty trying to build another tire swing, or because a happy, ecstatic puppy jumped up on us. I am ready for spring. Ready for dark country nights with a fire and good people. Ready for friends and family to come for the weekend. And while I am being honest.. *I* am ready for a girls get-away weekend in Kansas City =)

Has Spring Sprung?

The weather the past few days has been gorgeous! Saturday night there is a Super Moon. The moon will appear up to 15% bigger and 30% brighter in the sky, it will be a celestial treat Saturday! I look SO forward to it!

Been doing a lot of burning. Hopefully soon everything will be green again!

I've been digging around the big barn and found some real treasures. I've got my palm sander and chicken wire, now I need the paint. Theres an old pie safe back in there that I REALLY want to get to and re-do. I've never really attempted anything of the sorts before so I'll be learning as I go. I want it to look old, weathered & primitive anyhow so I really can't do much damage now can I? (Wait, don't answer that!)

Rabbits

6 of them... all living freely in a sectioned off corner of the shed house. All girls and SO sweet. I am the enemy. They see me and thump their hind foot to warn the others I was approaching. LOL! Once you finally caught one they were fine and would tolerate snuggles. After the frigid cold weather passed they were settled, we separated them and put them in traditional hutches. Found out this morning the hard way that 2 of those girls are BOYS and all 4 girls had babies over night and all the babies froze... my first experience with death and "disposal" the country way.

Things I've learned :

Don't stand over the burn barrel and stir the stuff with a stick. 

---Something in there WILL explode.

Always turn on the porch light before stepping outside after dark. 

---There WILL be a skunk out there. 

Goats climb.

Snow!

SNOW. Again! It  has been a very white winter and I have loved every flake of it :) Tonight its big, fat, juicy, wet flakes of snow. The cars drive by all linked together like a train going 10 miles per hour. I worry about the goats out back. The stinky, smelly, good for nothing but pooping goats, that I didn't want. I'd go out and check on them but I know they are sleeping. Soundly and warm, all huddled together in their deluxe shed. They hear me no matter how quiet I am and they cry when I leave. Have you ever have a baby goat cry out for you? Two months ago I would have answered 'no' also. But now I love those darn stinky, smelly, good for nothing pooping goats who are always happy to see me and cant seem to get enough of me...
Isn't that what we all want?!

Me and Ellie

hey ya'll (ya'll! hahaha ugh!)

I am back in Kansas. I came kicking and screaming, fingernails in concrete. Don't get me wrong, There are people here that I love. Things about here that I love, but I also loved -my-city, Kansas City... but now, here I am, back where it all began. Hell, we even got our old phone number back- that was a little hard to swallow- like we never even left. 6 years ... just a small hiccup, waiting for us until we returned to a small hick town with no grocery store, let alone a Quick Trip or Red Box rentals or Johnny Dare.  I am going through a mourning phase and missing my city. Bear with me and my ramblings. Its scary in my head, but maybe this will help...